Robinia is a genus of flowering plants in the family Fabaceae, tribe Robinieae, native to North America. Commonly known as locusts, they are deciduous trees and shrubs growing tall. The leaves are pinnate with 7–21 oval leaflets. The flowers are white or pink, in usually pendulous racemes. Many species have thorny shoots, and several have sticky hairs on the shoots.

The genus is named after the royal French gardeners Jean Robin and his son Vespasien Robin, who introduced the plant to Europe in 1601.

The number of species is disputed between different authorities, with as few as four recognised by some authors,

The flowers are used in teas and in pancakes, and are consumed as fritters in many parts of Europe.

Species

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  • Robinia hispida – bristly locust
  • Robinia hispida var. rosea (syn. R. boyntonii)
  • Robinia hispida var. nana (syns. R. elliottii & R. nana)
  • Robinia hispida var. kelseyi (syn. R. kelseyi)

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  • Robinia neomexicana (syn. R. luxurians) – New Mexican locust
  • Robinia pseudoacacia – black locust, false acacia

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  • Robinia viscosa – clammy locust
  • Robinia viscosa var. hartwegii (syn. R. hartwegii or R. hartwigii)
  • †Robinia zirkelii

Hybrids

  • Robinia × ambigua (R. pseudoacacia × R. viscosa) – Idaho locust
  • Robinia × holdtii (R. neomexicana × R. pseudoacacia)
  • Robinia × longiloba (R. hispida × R. viscosa)
  • Robinia × margarettiae (R. hispida × R. pseudoacacia)

References